208 THE SMUGGLER. 



his ear recognised in a moment the jingling of the dragoons' 

 arms, and he concluded rightly, that the party consisted of the 

 company which he had ordered from Folkestone down to Bil- 

 sington. As soon as they had gone on, he detached a man to 

 the next cross-road on the same side, with orders, if he per- 

 ceived any body of men coming across from the side of the 

 Marsh, to ride forward at once to the officer in command at 

 Bilsington, and direct him to move to the north, keeping the 

 Priory Wood on the right, till he reached the cross-roads at 

 the corner, and wait there for further orders. The beacons 

 had by this time burnt out; and all remained dark and still 

 for about half an hour more, when the quick galloping of a 

 horse was heard coming from the side of the Marsh. A pause 

 took place as soon as the animal reached the high road, as if 

 the rider had halted to look for some one he had expected ; 

 and, dashing down instantly through the gate of the field, 

 which had been opened by the dragoons to gain the highest 

 point of ground, the young officer exclaimed, "Who goes 

 there?" 



"Ah, colonel, is that you?" cried the voice of Birchett. 

 " They are coming up as fast as they can come, and will pass 

 either by Bilsington or Bonnington. There's a precious lot of 

 them: I never saw such a number gathered before. Mowle's 

 gone, poor fellow, to a certainty; for we've seen nothing of 

 him down there." 



" Nor I either," answered the young officer, with a sigh. 

 " I hope you have left men to watch them, Mr. Birchett." 



" Oh! yes, sir," replied the officer. " I thought it better to 

 come up myself than trust to any other. But I left Clinch 

 and the rest there, and sent off, as you told me, to all your 

 posts." 



" You are sure they will come by Bilsington or Bonnington, 

 and not strike off by Kitsbridge, towards Ham Street or Ware- 

 horn?'' demanded the young officer. 



" If they do, they'll have to turn all the way back," an- 

 swered Birchett; " for I saw them to the crossing of the roads, 

 and then came across by Sherlock's Bridges and the horse- 

 road to Hurst." 



"And are you quite sure," continued the colonel, "that 

 your messengers will reach the parties at Brenzet or Snave?" 



"Quite, sir," answered the custom-house officer; "for I 



